McClellan Air Force Base closed July 2001, but a quarter‑century later the 3,000‑acre former military installation has become McClellan Park, drawing $600 million in investment, 10 million sq ft of commercial space and 90 % occupancy.
The base had been a major employer for six decades, supporting logistics and maintenance for the U.S. military. Its shutdown in 2001 threatened thousands of jobs and stalled regional growth, prompting a swift “hot transfer” of private businesses into vacant buildings to keep some employment afloat.
Under a partnership between the U.S. Air Force, Sacramento County and private developers, the site was redeveloped through environmental cleanup, adaptive reuse of existing structures and infrastructure upgrades, including a 10,600‑foot runway turned into a public‑use airport and a 7‑mile rail link to Union Pacific and BNSF lines. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center reported that 325 contaminated sites were addressed through groundwater treatment, soil remediation and protective caps, earning an EPA award for restoration.
The 2020 McClellan Park fact sheet shows a 90 % occupancy rate, daily traffic of 15,000‑17,000 and 5 million sq ft of space still available for development. The park now hosts private firms, government agencies, industrial facilities, offices and community organisations, making it a major employment and business destination for the surrounding region.
A former base logistics worker now runs a supply‑chain consultancy at McClellan Park, saying the new hub keeps the community’s industrial skills alive. Meanwhile, a local high‑school student volunteers at the park’s public‑use airport, dreaming of a career in aviation.